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How bright does a window display need to be?
Under-specifying brightness is the most expensive mistake in retail display, because the screen looks fine in the morning and invisible by three in the afternoon. This is the number to get right before you compare prices.
Brightness by position
| Position | Needed (nits / cd/m2) | What to use |
|---|---|---|
| Shaded interior (corridor, reception) | 400-800 | LCD or fine-pitch LED |
| Bright interior near a window | 800-1500 | Indoor LED poster |
| Shop window, no direct sun | 2000-3000 | Fine-pitch LED or holographic |
| Shop window, direct sunlight | 3000-5000 | Holographic or high-brightness LED |
| Street-level outdoor, any light | 5000-6500 | Outdoor LED poster, IP65 |
Why the afternoon is the real test
A screen that faces east is fine until midday and then fades. One that faces west is fine all morning and dies in the afternoon. When you measure, measure at the worst hour for that specific window - not at the convenient one. If the glass gets direct sun at any point in the day, plan for 3000 nits or more.
The transparent option
In a window, brightness is not the only requirement: the shop usually still needs the daylight and the view. Ahanging holographic panel runs 2000-4500 cd/m2 while remaining over 80% transparent, so you get the brightness and keep the window. That combination is not available from any LCD screen.
Automatic dimming, and why it matters
A screen that holds 6500 nits all night is glare, wasted electricity and unnecessary heat. Our outdoor LED posters carry a built-in light sensor that adjusts brightness automatically, so the picture is correct at midday and comfortable at midnight without anyone touching it.
When one screen must serve two audiences
A window unit often has to speak to the street and the shop at the same time. A double-sided machine solves it with two independently controlled faces - the outer face at high brightness for passers-by, the inner face dimmer for customers standing inside. Our 43 inch rotating window machine is built exactly for this.
What to tell us
- Which way the window faces, and whether it gets direct sun.
- The viewing distance from the pavement and from inside.
- Whether the view through the glass has to be preserved.
- Operating hours - this decides whether automatic dimming is worth specifying.
With those four answers the brightness requirement is arithmetic, and we will confirm the model that meets it.
Common questions
What is a nit?
A nit is one candela per square metre (cd/m2). It is the standard unit for screen brightness, so 5000 cd/m2 and 5000 nits mean the same thing.
Why does my current screen disappear in the afternoon?
West-facing glass gets direct sun in the afternoon. A screen at 400-500 nits cannot compete with that, so it appears black. You need roughly 3000 nits or more behind sunlit glass.
Is a brighter screen always better?
No. Full brightness after dark is glare, wastes power and shortens LED life. Specify automatic dimming - a light sensor that drops brightness at night - and you get the best of both.
Should I use a solid screen or a transparent one in a window?
If the window must still admit daylight and keep the view through it - which is often a condition of the lease - use a transparent holographic panel. If maximum brightness matters more than the view, use a solid high-brightness LED poster.
Do holographic panels get bright enough?
Yes. Ours run 2000 to 4500 cd/m2 depending on pixel pitch, which is enough for sunlit glass. The trade is that some light passes through by design - that is what makes them transparent.
What about a screen that faces the street and the shop at once?
A double-sided window unit handles it: the outward face is high brightness for the street, the inward face is lower and dimmer for customers inside. Our 43 inch rotating window machine works on this principle.
Does high brightness cost much to run?
It draws more power, but it is manageable. An outdoor LED poster averages around 450 W per square metre at full brightness, and automatic dimming cuts that substantially through the evening.